When you are pregnant, raised hormone levels increase your risk of gum disease and tooth decay because your body becomes more sensitive to dental plaque. Additionally, the acid in stomach bile from morning sickness can also affect your dental health by wearing away tooth enamel. Routine teeth cleaning helps you maintain your oral health during pregnancy, as do other recommended practices. Here are a few tips to keep your smile healthy during the next nine months. 

Do: 

Keep up with oral hygiene. 

Continue gently brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day to remove plaque and bacteria from your mouth. Use a soft-bristled implement, since medium or hard bristles can irritate gum tissue. It is also important to carefully floss your teeth once a day to remove bacteria and plaque under the gumline that your toothbrush cannot reach. Consider using an antibacterial mouth rinse as well to combat increased dental plaque sensitivity. Use brushing and flossing sessions to examine your gums for signs of gingivitis, the reversible precursor to gum disease. Common gingivitis signs include gum swelling, redness, and bleeding. 

See your dentist early in your pregnancy. 

Schedule an appointment with your dentist during your first trimester and inform the dental professional of your pregnancy. The dentist will help you create a plan and provide dental care product recommendations, such as those concerning mouth rinses. A deep teeth cleaning early in your pregnancy removes tartar, or hardened plaque that forms under the gumline. Tartar irritates gum tissue and causes it to break down, which heightens the gingivitis risk. 

Don’t: 

Schedule dental procedures.

Avoid dental treatments requiring anesthesia during the first trimester due to related fetal risks. If you need a root canal or other procedure calling for anesthesia, schedule it during the second trimester when the risk of fetal damage is low. Waiting until the third trimester is not recommended, since lying on your back for extended periods is uncomfortable. Depending on the reason for the procedure, the dentist might also suggest waiting until after you give birth. 

Brush your teeth immediately following morning sickness bouts. 

Engaging in teeth cleaning practices after retching is never a good idea, since it causes you to brush stomach acid into your tooth enamel. Rinse your mouth with water after morning sickness and wait at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth. This gives saliva sufficient time to neutralize stomach acids. You can also rinse your mouth with a teaspoon of baking soda in a cup of warm water, as this has a neutralizing effect. 

Schedule a teeth cleaning and checkup at Waterford Dental Health. Based in Waterford, CT, this dental practice provides a wide range of services to help area residents enjoy healthy, beautiful smiles, including tooth fillings and teeth whitening. Call (860) 447-2235 today to make an appointment or learn more about services online.